I really enjoyed the Beatniks’ production of “Communicating Doors”, a time-traveling comedy/murder mystery with a rather complicated plot. people are jumping through time – but the talented cast handled it well - and with credible British accents! 3 Spotlights
****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED**** In 1989, Lyric Opera of Chicago launched an artistic initiative that came to be known as "Toward the 21st Century," wherein the company was committed to presenting at least one 20th-century opera, whether American or European, each season for an entire decade. For the most part, that trend has continued well beyond that initial period, carrying over into the new millennium. Now, as a means to attract new audience members. Lyric Opera is offering performances that are sung in English (with projected English supertitles), Lyric has also refocused that objective to bring more contemporary operas to the mainstage. Perhaps the most internationally well-known of these modern works, since it has been produced by 70 different companies worldwide, is "Dead Man Walking," which had its world premiere in 2000 at San Francisco Opera and makes its long-awaited Chicago premiere here. 4 BIG SPOTLIGHTS
***RECOMMENDED*** Pretty soon the artistic and executive directors of Porchlight Music Theatre may have to add a newly minted moniker to the list of credits printed in the Playbill that they distribute at each performance: casting by Divas Central Management. Last autumn, Porchlight presented a highly-lauded production of "Gypsy" starring E. Faye Butler -- a performance which saw a very busy Butler finally return to a Chicago stage after quite a lengthy absence. She was greeted with open arms by critics and Porchlight audiences alike and won a coveted Jeff Award for her efforts. Now the elusive local star returning to the stage is Hollis Resnik in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Sunset Boulevard," which is the first Webber show that Porchlight has ever produced as they enter their Silver Anniversary season. To keep the diva trend going, avid musical theatre lovers can only dream that next October Porchlight will launch their season with Paula Scrofano as Aurora in "Kiss of the Spider Woman". Or, how about Barbara E. Robertson in the title role of "Mame"? They both would be sensational. 3 SPOTLIGHTS
FOOTLIGHT’S COMEDY IS REDHOT - I was invited to see the final dress rehearsal of Footlight Players current production of Neil Simon’s wonderful play, THE LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS. This was the late great playwright’s favorite of all his works, and I don’t remember having a more enjoyable evening,
*** Recommended *** “Kentucky” is a quirky little play about a very dysfunctional family. “Kentucky” is an odd, eccentric play. It’s funny until it’s not. It has music, but it’s not a musical. It’s a poignant story about going home, with a moral (if there is a moral) – no matter what you think you know, you can’t know – or decide - what’s best for someone else. 3 Spotlights
I had the marvelous opportunity recently to go to Symphony Center to see/hear the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) conducted by Benjamin Northey. Although I a receive a lot more invitations to plays than to concerts, I always try to accept the ones I do get. MSO commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, with “The Galaxy’s Greatest Hits”. In addition to glorious music, pictures from space were projected on a giant screen suspended above the orchestra. It was an ‘out-of-this-world’ experience! 4 BIG Spotlights
****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED**** Hubbard Street Dance Chicago has launched its 42nd season with an evening of three bold and exciting works, collectively titled "Forge Forward." The title is appropriate. These edgy and slightly risky works prove once again that Hubbard Street is clearly Chicago's best modern dance company and they have consistently established a reputation for constantly looking toward the future. Two of the pieces presented here are world premieres -- one by New York-based choreographer Kyle Abraham and the other by Hubbard Street Choreographic Fellow Rena Butler. 4 BIG SPOTLIGHTS
***RECOMMENDED*** When life seems to be a constant struggle and every turn is met with heartache, finding a true friend to talk with to make yourself feel better can be a mighty big challenge. At those times, you are forced to examine nearly every detail of your situation and identify a singular passion which will successfully reconnect you to the land of the living and keep your unhappiness at bay. For the main character in the musical "A Man of No Importance" that joy can only be found while engaged in the theatrical arts -- specifically as a director presenting the works of his favorite playwright, Oscar Wilde, to entertain the Irish urbanites via the scrappy community theatre troupe known as the St. Imelda Players of which he's a long-standing member. 3 AND 1/2 SPOTLIGHTS
**SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED** For the past 36 years, Raven Theatre has built a solid reputation by presenting season after season of well-balanced programming. Known primarily for producing classic works written by many of the legendary American playwrights, Raven has also mixed in amongst those heavy hitters' work some wonderful contemporary writer's plays to expose Chicago audiences to exciting new voices in the theatre world. However, recently-appointed Artistic Director Cody Estle, only in his second full season in command, has taken a slight misstep with "Sundown, Yellow Moon" by Rachel Bonds. 2 SPOTLIGHTS
**** Recommended **** I really enjoyed “An Evening with C.S. Lewis”, more than I thought I would. A few years back I saw “C.S. Lewis Onstage: The Most Reluctant Convert” starring Max Mason, and was bored stiff. Oh, no, another C.S. Lewis I thought. I’m happy to say David Payne’s C.S. Lewis was entirely different, more personal. His anecdotes were funny and quite delightful, his poems – or as he called them, little ditties – displayed a wry sense of humor. 3 ½ Spotlights
